Solicchiata, Castiglione di Sicilia (CT)

Solicchiata is a small district in the town of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the north face of Etna, at about 600 meters above sea level, and has an ancient wine production tradition. This 13.000 sqms. estate has all the features both of the natural meso-mediterranean bioclimate environment and the traditional agricultural landscape, with its grapevine terracings, the manor house, and the millstone. The symbolic reference is the vineyard, whose name is “Nome est omen”. The whole landscape and architectural project fosuses on the ecological use of the existing resources: terraces, herds, dry walls, lawns, stairs, and “munzeddi”. The new cellar, due to its shape and color, is the munzeddo (which means “heap” – Studio Mario Cucinella MCA Architects) which recalls the ancient stone deposits. The theme is “telling the world around the vine”, a production space, one of wine tasting and promotion of vine culture. The philosophy behind the project has followed the old strategy of exploiting any possible thing: for example: pedestrian paths and pergolas are made of chestnut, while the vine supports and the plant sculptures are the logs of the vines. But the project also meant to recall the memory of farm food: chickpeas, lentils, peppers, olives, broccoli, celery, onions, capers, beans, peas, but also broad beans and lupins will be cultivated for the visitors’ knowledge, along with the orchard of almonds, hazelnuts, olive trees, pomegranates, and figs.

Data sheet

Progetto: The landscape of the wine cellar
Luogo: Solicchiata, Castiglione di Sicilia (CT)

Committente: private

Collaboratori: MC A (Mario Cucinella Architects s.r.l.) progetto architettonico

Cronologia:  2015

Superficie: mq 12.000

Marilena Baggio

Marilena Baggio